Missouri Lottery sets high mark for education transfer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Lottery has again set a record for the amount of money it provides to education.

The Lottery said Friday that it transferred nearly $289 million to education during the 2013 fiscal year, which ends this month.

That's nearly $9 million more than last year's record and an increase of more than 3 percent. The amount of Lottery proceeds transferred to education has risen each of the past three years.

Lottery Executive Director May Scheve (SHE'-vee) Reardon cited a new advertising campaign and Powerball changes that made jackpots grow bigger and faster among several reasons for the increased proceeds.

Slightly less than two-thirds of Lottery revenues are returned as prizes. About one-quarter goes to education, 6 percent to retailers and about 4 percent to administration.